Photograhic camera.



PATENTED' APR. 3, 1906.

J. D. GARFIELD. PHOTOGRAPHIG CAMERA. APPLICATION FILED DEO.1,1905.

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No.816.907. PATENTED APR.3, 1906.

I J. D. GARFIELD.

PHOTOGRAPHIO CAMERA.

APPLICATION FILED DEO.1,1905.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

Y I I 1/ w 4 I I l fave/550i,

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented April 3, 1906.

Application filed December 1', 1905- Serial No. 289 812.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JULIUS D. GARFIELD, a citizen of the United States of America, and a resident of Springfield, in the county of Hampden and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Photo raphic Cameras, of which the following is a ull, clear, and exact description.

This invention relates to photographic cameras of the class known as reflectingcameras, and especially to such cameras in which the shutter thereof is in proximity to the lens as distinguishedfrom the more common form of reflecting-cameras in which ourtain-shutters adjacent the focal plane are employed.

The principal object of this invention is the provision of a light-excluding protectorplate which is operated in connection with a swinging mirror for the protection of uncovered photographic plates or films within the camera from extraneous light entering through the horizontal ground-glass screen during the upward movement of the mirror from its inclined or reflecting'position to its horizontal. and light-excluding position, as well as during the downward or setting movement of the mirror.

Another object of the invention is to provide in connection with a free swinging mirror and-an independent free swinging but upwardly spring-actuated protector-plate a mirror and protector-plate actuator or lifter and an automatic double-acting latching device, whereby the mirror is locked in its upper and light-excluding position during the downward setting movement of the protector-plate and whereby the protector-plate is locked in its lower and light-excludingposition during the upward movement of the mirror.

Other objects of the invention are attained by the provision ofa lens-shutter as an appurtenance of the protector-plate, the provision of a coacting shield therefor formed on the actuating-lever or lifter, and the lens stop or dia hragm, the positioning of which before the ens and the retiring of the same therefrom being controlled by the actuatinglever or lift'er.

The invention consists in the arrangements or combinations of parts and the construction of certain of the parts, all substantially as hereinafter fully described, and set forth in the claims.

vertical section through a camera embodying my improvements, the section being taken on a line 1 1, Fig. 5, and the position of the mirror and the parts coacting therewith shown as in the position they occupy for previous to making an exposure. Fig. 2 is an obliquely vertical section taken through one side 'of the camera on a line 2 2, Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a view similar to 1, but showing the mirror and coacting parts as in the posi-' tion they normally occupy-that is, the position immediately following the making of an exposure. Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 2, taken on a line 44, Fig. 3, which is the same plane of section as line 2 2, Fi 1, but this view shows the same relations 0 the parts as Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is a plan view of the camera, the upper portion thereof above the line 5 5, Fig. 2 bein shown as omitted. Fig. 6 is a sectional front e evation of the camera as taken on a line 6 6, Fig. 5. Fig. 7 is aperspective view of the stop or diaphragm I employ in this camera, together with a part coacting therewith for automatically bringing the same into operative position in front of the lens and for permitting the retiring of the same therefrom. Fig. 8 is a perspective view of the operating-shaft and handle-lever. Fig. 9 is a perspective view of the mirror and its frame and hinge portion. Fig. 10is a perspective view of the'lever-plate or lifter and the lens-shield formed thereon. Fi 11 is a perspective view of the protector-p ate and the lens-shutter formed thereon. I

In the drawings, A represents the camerabox, the top board 10 of which has a rectangular opening 11 therein, above which is mounted in a suitable frame the hooded horizontal ground glass 12. side of and adjacent the rear endportion of plate-holder or film-pack or may be of a size holder. A lens-opening 14 is provided in the front end of the box A, and a suitable hinged cover 15, as shown in Fig. 1, may be provided to inclose the horizontal ground glass and its hood when the camera is not in use.

Within the box A is secured a skeleton frame consisting of two side boards 16 and ing frame-bars 19 and 20. Each of the side boards 16 and 17 has formed thereon adjacent its rear end portions the angularthe box A is provided for the insertion of a to properly receive a film-cartridge roll-- 17, a front board 18, and the rear end unit- In the drawings, Figure 1 is a longitudinal viewing the picture and as they are set An opening B in one IIG ' shaped blocks 21, the forward upwardly-extending angles of which are cloth-covered and form ledges or seats 22. 'A transverselyver'sal focus type, is mounted in the front cess or cut 28 is provided in the ed e of. the

board 18 at a point in line with the lens-opening 14 in the camera-box proper. I

'At' a point just forward of the cloth-covered face of the frame-bar 1 9 and slightly above the upper end of the cloth-covered ledges 22 a transversely-extending rock-shaft 26'is supported in bearing-holes 27 in the side boards 16 and 17. (See Fi". 5.) The bearin'g ho'le 27 in side board 16 has an upwardlyextending cut 28 leading therefrom, which accommodates the upturned lever portion 29 of shaft 26, and a continuation 30 of said retop board 10. ee Fig. 5.) The ength of the lever 29 is such that, its upwardly-bent freeend projects slightly above the to surface of the top board 10, and the len t fiwise extent of the cuts 28 and 30 is suc as to admit of a sufficient forward and back movement of said lever to turn'the shaft 26 about one-ei hth of a revolution.

A ate-likelever 32 of a width considerably ess than the internal width of the camera and having a straight or flat portion which issomewhat longer than the clothfaced side ledges 22, is firmly pinned or otherwise securedto the central portion of the shaft 26 in the position illustrated in Figs. 1, 3, 5, and 6, and a downwardly-extendin portion 33 isbent to a curve concentric wit the shaft 26 and is of such a distance radially from said shaft as to slightly clear the rear face of the lens 25. The angle at which this shaft-carried lever-plate 32.0r lifter, as it will be called by reason of its havin the function of elevating the mirror as we 1 as other functions, extends relatively to the angle of the shaft-lever 29 and is such that when the lever-plate is in it's u ermost or horizontal position, as shown in 1g. 3, the free or handle end 29of the shaft 26 1s at. its rearward extent of movement and vertical. A lens-opening 35, formed about centrally in the curved portion 33 of-the lever-plate, is at this time, as-shown in said Fi' 3, 1n alinement with the a lens, and while the ever-plate is inthis osition to provide against, any extraneous 'ght comin into the camera, except through the limite opening 35 the front board 18 is rearwardly reinforced by a curved built-outportion 36, the rearcloth-covered surface of which 'is of'the same are of curvature as the curved portion 33 of the lever-plate 32. The preferred means employed for attaching the ever-plate or lifter to the operating-shaft 26 is, as shown inthe various views ofthe drawings, by means of a shaft encircling tubular portion 37, formed on the rear end of said leverlate, which when correctly positioned on t e shaft 26 is firmly secured thereto by a pin 38.

A swlnging mirror 40', mounted in a suit able mirror-frame 41, is located immediately above the'lifter 32 and'is loosely hinge-supported on the shaft 26 by the tubular hinge projections 42 42 of the mirror-frame. (See igs. 5 and 9.) The under side surface of the mirror-frame is provided with a felt cushion.

45, which serves to maintain the mirror when in its extreme u er and lower positions in proper relations p to the lever-plate and to also deaden any sound which might-be caused bythe dropping of the mirror from its raised position to the lowered position of the lifter, as in Fig. 1.

Located below the lifter 32 is the rotec'tor:

plate 50, which late is also loosely ge-supported on the s aft 26 by the bent-up perforated ears51 51.- This protector-plate is of a width equal to the dlstance between the side boards 16 and 17 and is flat and straight for a length equal to the length of the clothcovered ledges 22 and is preferably made of a cured to the under side of lifter 32, tends to maintain the said plate in a parallel position to the protector-plate 50, as shown in Fig. -1. A spring 57, having one end anchored in the rear portion of one side wall of the camera and itsfree end engaging the protector-plate 5g) exerts an upward force against the said p ate.

- An automatically-operating cam bar or le-" ver 60 is pivotally supported within an obliquely upwardly extending groove 61 within the camera box or frame and is pressed from saidgroove'toward the chamber in the box by its spring 62. (See Figs. 2 and 4.) The upper end portion of this cam-bar 60 is provided with acam-shaped latch 63, the flat to edge portion of WhlOll normally supports t e mirror-frame 41, as shown in Figs. 3 and 4. 1

An inverted cam-shaped latch 65, forme on the cam-bar 60 intermediatelyof its length and adjacent the ledge 22, is ada ted to en- IIO gage the protector-plate 50 and ho d the same A i 0 cam-bar. 60-to the position shown in dotted I ledges 22 and against the upward pressure of sprin 57 at the times when the mirror 40 is in its lower orreflecting position and also during the upward movement of said mirror and until the instant just previous to the latching of the same in its upward and light-excluding osition. Immediately preceding the latch I mg of the mirror to this last-described position, which position is illustrated in Figs. 3

and 4, theeontacting edge of the mirrorframe 41 rides over the downwardly-inclined 'aiportion of the latch-cam 63 and forces the linesin Fig. 4 against the compression of spring 62. This above-described action of the m rror-frame during its upward movement on the cam-bar 60 withdraws the fiat bottom edge 64 of cam-latch 65 from above the engaged. edge portion of the protector plate ,50, which results in a sprirg-impelled upward movement of the protector-plate.

At the first upward impulse of the protectorplate, however, the contacting edge portion thereof encounters the slightly-angular camface 66 of the latch-cam 65"and acts to force the cam-bar 60 slightly farther backinto its groove 61 than the upper cam-latch 63 had done. This is of little importance at this time, but is of essential importance during the operation of settirg the mirror in its refleeting position, as will later be apparent.

Referring to Figs. 1, 3, and 5, and more especially to Figs. 6 and 7, a simple automatic means for stopping down the lens previous to making an instantaneous exposure is illustrated and consists of a stop or diaphragm plate 70, pivotally attached to the front board 18 in front of the lens 25. The bottom edge portion of this diaphragm-plate 70 has formed thereon the perforated bent-up lug 7 1,

.-through which passes the lifting-rod 72, having theeye, 73 formed on its lower end and a ,spring 74 interposed between said eye and the lug 71. The angularly-bent upper end 75 of this rod projects through and has a free vertical movement in a slot 76 in the front board 18, the end 75 being within the path of movement of the lever-plate 32, by which it is raised to the position shown in Fig. 3 on the raising of said plate. which the end 75 of the lifting-rod is raised by the lever-plate 32 is greater than the distance upwardly that the diaphragm 70 is permitted to be raised before it encounters the stop-pin 77, (see Fig. 6,) and the balance of the upward movement of the lifting-rod, succeeding the arresting of the upward movement of the diaphragm by the stop-pin, is made against the compression of the spring 7 4, to the end that a stationary and operative position of the diaphragm is maintained during the final upward movement of the lifter 32 and previous to the upward movement of the shutter 53. Immediately following the The distance to downward movement of the lifter 32 a downwardly-acting spring 78 draws the lifting-rod 72 downward and by the engagement of the bend 79 of said lifting-rod with the lug 71 moves the diaphragm to its lower position, thus iving a full opening to the lens 25, where y a more brilliant reflection on the ground-glass screen is insured.

The operation of the camera to view the picture or subject and to subsequently make an instantaneous exposure is as follows: The camera-cover 15, which supports a suitable hood for the ground-glass screen, having been raised and the mirror and its coacting parts being in the position as illustrated in Fig. 3, the lever 29 is pressed forwardly, which rotates shaft 26 and carries the lifter 32, which ispinned to said shaft, downwardly to the position shown in Fig. 1. This downward movement of the lifter 32 carries the protector-plate 50, which is located thereunder/downward also until it reaches its set position and is locked therein by the cam-latch against the upward pressure of the spring 57. Almost simultaneously with the locking in the set or light-excluding position of the protector-plate the passing of its contacting edge over the projecting point of the camera 65, just above the cam-face 66 thereof,

shaft 26 drops by gravity to its reflecting position. (Shown in Fig. 1.) During the downward movement of the lifter 32, as first described, the shutteropening 35, as a reference to Fig. 1 will show, is shielded by the upper portion of the curved portion 33 of said lever-plate from the entrance of light through the lens 25 into the camera. After viewing the picture as reflected on the ground-glass screen and being ready to make an instantaneous exposure the lever 29 is pressedrearwardly, which raises the mirror 40 by means of the lever-plate 32 to its up ward and light-excluding position, where it is automatically locked by the latch-cam 63, the lens-opening 35 in the curved portion 33. of the lever-plate being at this time in position behind the lens and the diaphragm 70 being properly positioned in front of the lens. Instantly following the raising of the parts above described and synchronously with the upward locking of the mirror the lightweight protector-plate 50 is unlocked from its seated position on the ledges 22 and is quickly moved upwardly by its spring 57 and in so doing carries its shutter-opening 55 across the lens-opening 35 in the lever-plate and permits an exceedingly brief passage of light through the lens 25 to the uncovered photographic plate.

I claim- 1. In a photographic camera, a camera- 'tot mirror, to release the protector-plate latch,

permitting the protector-plate to be then raised, and means for raising the protectorplate.

2. In a photographic camera, a camerabox having a top 0 enin and a trontlens' opening, a mirror a apte to swing to a horizontal position adjacent said top opening and to an inclined position behind the lens-opening, a protectorlate beneath the mirror, and adapted to ave swinging movements similar to those of the mirror, latches for respectively automatically engaging and holding the mirror in its raised position, and the protector-plate in its lowered position, the protector-plate latch being operative by its movement preparatory to engaging the low- 30 ered protector-plate, to release the mirrorlatch, permitting the mirror to be then swung to its lowered position, and means for operat ing the protector-plate both directions.

3. In a photographic camera, a camerabox having a top openin and a front lens opening, a mirror adapte to swing to a horizontal position adjacent said top opening and to an inclined position behind the lens-opening, a protector-plate beneath the mirror, and ada ted to have swinging movements similar iiose of the mirror, latches for respectively automatically engaging and holding the mirror in its raised position, and the protector plate in its lowered position, the mirror-latch 45 eing operative by its movement preparatory to engaging the raised mirror, to release the protector-plate latch, permitting the protector-plate, to be then raised, and the protector-plate latch being operative by its movement, for engagement wlth the lowered rotector-plate to release the mirror-latch om its engagement with the raised mirror.

, 4. In a photographic camera, a camerabox havin a top opening and a lens-opening,-

a mirror a apted to swing to a horizontal position adjacent said top opening and to an inclined osition behind the lens-opening, a

lifter un er the mirror, pivotally mounted for swinging movements, and means for imparting its swinging movements thereto, a protector-plate beneath the lifter, and adapted to have swinging movements similar to those of the mirror and lifter, latches for respectively automatically engaging and holding the mirror in its raised position and the protectorlate in its lowered position, the mirror-late being operative by its movement preparatory to engaging the raised mirror to release the protector-plate latch, permitting the protector-plate to be then raised, and means for raising the protector plate.

5. In aphotographic camera, acamera-box having a top opening, and a front lens-opening, a mirror pivotally mounted for swinging movements for assuming alternately a horizontal position adjacent said top opening, and an inclined position behind the lens-opening, a pivotally-mounted lifter, under the mirror, and a protector-plate beneath the lifter, said lifter and protector-plate being adapted to have swinging movements similar to those of the mirror, means for swinging the lifter in opposite directions for respectively positively raising the mirror, and for positively downwardly swinging the protector-plate, latches;

for respectively automatically engaging and holding the mirror in its raised position and the protector-plate in its lowered position,'the mirror-latch being operative by its movement preparatory to engaging the raised mirror to release the protector-plate latch, from its engagement with the protector-plate, and the protector-plate latch being adapted to cause by its movement for engagement with 5 lifter, and adapted to have swinging movements similar to those of the mirror, a springpresseddever pivotally mounted within the side of the box having at upper and lower por- "tions thereof latch members for respectively engaging and holding the mirror in its raised position and the protector-plate in its lowered position, the mirror-latch being operative by its movement preparatory to engaging the raised mirror to swing the said lever, thereby disengaging the protector-plate latch from the protector-plate, and means for exerting a raising force against the protectorplate. i

' 7. A camera-box having a front lens-opening and a top opening, a horizontal rod in an upper part of the box behind the top opening, a mirror and a protector-plate-pivotally hung on said rod and adapted to have swingingmovements independently of each other, a spring-pressed lever pivoted within the side of the box and having at upper and lower portions thereof respectively a mirror-latch and a protector-plate latch, means for positively upwardly swinging the mirror, independently-operative means for exertin an upward force against the'protectorlate, and means for downwardly swinging t e protectorlate, said latches being arranged relative y to the course of movements of the mirror and protector-plate to alternately engage the one and release the other of said lastnamed parts.

8. A camera-box having a front lens-opening and a top opening, a horizontal rod, in an upper part of the box behind the top openin and provided with an externally-accessible lever member, a mirror and a protector-plate both pivotally loosely hung on said rod and adapted to have swinging movements independently of each other, a lifter fixed to and adapted to have rocking movements in unison with said rod, and extendin between and unattached relatively to both t e'mirror and the protector-plate, a spring-pressed lever pivoted within the side of the box and having at u per and lower ortions thereof respective y a mirror-latch and a protectorplate latch, and a spring for exerting an upward force against the protector-plate, and said latches being arranged relatively to the course of movements of the mirror and protector-plate to alternately engage the one and release the-other of said vlast named parts.

9. A camera-box having a front lens-opening and a top opening, a mirror and a protector-plate pivotally mounted to have swinging movements, inde endently of each other, and said protector-p ate having a curved depending apertured shutter at its portion toward the lens-opening, a s ring-pressed lever pivoted within the side 0 the'box and havmg at upper and lower portions thereof re- 'spectively a mirror-latch and a protector- P ate latch, means for ositively upwardly swinging the mirror, in ependent means for exerting an upward force against the protector-plate, and meansfor downwardly swinging the protectorlate, and said latchesbeing arranged relative y to the course of movements of the mirror and protector-plate to alternately engage the one and release the other of said last-named parts.

10. In a photographic camera, a camerabox having a top opening and a lens-opening, and a diaphragm-stop, movable to a position opposite the lens-opening, a mirror adapted to swing to a horizontal position adjacent said top opening and to an inclined position behind the lens-opening, a lifter under the mirror, pivotally mounted for swinging movements, and means for imparting its swinging movements thereto, and said lifter coacting with said diaphragm-stop to bring the latter to its position opposite the lens-opening on the upward movements of such lifter, a protector-plate beneath the lifter, and adapted to have swinging movements similar to those of the mirror and lifter, latches for respectively automatically engaging and holding the mirror in its raised position and the protectorlate in its lowered position, the mirrorlatc being operative by its movement prep aratory to engaging the raised mirror to release the protector-plate latch, permitting the protector-plate to be then raised, and means for raising the protectorlate.

Signed by me at pringfield, Massachusetts, in presence of two subscribing witnesses.

JULIUS D. GARFIELD. Witnesses:

WM. S. BELLQWS,

G. R. DaIsooLLf 

